Wichita eagle., 1887-04-15

see her was all Linda comprehended, ani
) she rushed to the conclusion that it WA
Q certain widow Thompson whose invalid
daughter really executed the delicate lace
and embroidery its purchaser did no,
scruple to pass off as her own.
Nor was there anything in the appear
ance of the quietly dressed figure that
rose at her entrance to disabuse the young
lady Of that notion. A screen concealed
Herbert Torrens from view the while she
addressed hereelf to his mother IN very
different tones TO the dulcet ones he was
accustomed to hear from those coral lips.
$50 this is the way your daughter treats
her best customer" were the first words
leyeled at the aStonished nearer. al.
though I sent word that must have the
lace 10y yesterday evening at the latest,
you have disappointed me! Don't attempt
to make any excuses, l never listen to
them. People have no business to accept
work unless they intend to execute the
order well and punctually."
perhaps the young person is i'll, - in
terposed Miss Weston's cousin cam /
right" she asked, kindly addressing Mrs.
Torrens SIS your daughter too i'll to
| worki'
Nonsense, Flor cried Linda, in a more
more peremptory fashion than before.
"Haven't / said already that l never &C.
cept excuses? If one would listen to the
tales people OF this description are always
eager to tell there would be no dealing
with them at ALL
is not tbs rather harshs'' asked Mrs.
| Torrens, li,i,t!ng room to put in word at
last and unable to resist espousing the
! cause Of the poor ''Those who work for
~ lg are only too anxious to earn all
they y
A III yet vol have not brought home
my Ice wiz not have it at all now.
1t would be no use to me. l must buy
one, suppose. And it is your own fault,
entirely your own fault, that the other is
thrown on your hands,
''Oh, but, dear Linda" demonstrated
her cousin, lit will be such heavy loss
to a person in Mrs. Thompson position -
Il don't carel See in what an awkward
one it places me. Ihad told MIR. TOrrens
/ should have it ready to present to his
mother, and what reason can give for
not producing it?'
IF you would allow me to EXPLAIN
Mrs. TOrrens began, but she was rudely
stopped.
mo want none of your explanations.
/ meant to have given your daughter sew
eral things to do for me, because she is
cheap; but now I'll find some one who is
more dependable. Good morning"
''Have you far to walk?'' asked Flo
kindly, as she stepped forward and slipped
a shilling into the Widows hand. Would
you not like to rest awhile before you go
homes Linda, may l not take Mrs.
Thompson to the hOuse&eeper's room?"
But the appeal for permission to procure
some coffee or wine for the elderly woman,
who was trembling and changing color SO
oddly, was only half uttered and quite
unheard by the demoiselle to whom it was
addressed. in turning around to sweep
majestically from the boudoir Linda
found herself face to face with Herbert
Torrens.
In pity for her confusion, that robbed
her Of all her ordinary self satisfaction,
Herbert behaved as if he had not been a
grieved and Disguised auditor of all that
had passed
He introduced both the young ladies to
his mother, and Mrs. Torrens, following
her sons example, plunged into long
and animated description of her journey
to town on the preceding day. AS Flo
also recovered herself sufficiently to ap-
pear interested and put few questions,
the ball of conversation was kept up until
Mr.. Weston came into the room.
Before Linda had finished asking her
self how much or how little her lover had
overheard, or whether she need fear the
influence of such dowdy parsonage as
his mother, Herbert had seized an oppor-
tuEity and both were saying their adieux.
I'VE shall see you again in the even
iRg?" queried the beauty, almost timidly.
Il think not. You may have other en-
gagements," and a significant glance at
the programme and bouquet revealed that
another of her falsehoods had been de-
tected.
Flo Weston led such an uncomfortable
life at kensington when Herbert Torrens
resigned all pretensions to her cousin 8
hand that she was very glad to curtail
her visit and go back to her duties as the
eldest daughter in the large family of q
country curate.
But she had not been home long when
she was invited to Clifton to spend few
weeks with Mrs Torrens, who smilingly
showed her attached to her chatelaine, the
shilling-it was almost her only one
compassionately bestowed on the widow
thompson.
The weeks became months, for Mrs.
TorTens went abroad in the autumn to try
some German baths, and begged Flo to
accompany her They went under the
escort OF Herbert; and to the immense in
dignation of the beauty, who is still I'M
their return to England was
speedily followed by wedding. Need
we say whose?-Ladies' Journal